Join the Movement: Healthy School Meals for All Lobby Day Is Almost Here!

February 17th is a day with the potential to transform children’s school meals and shape their entire educational experience. It’s Healthy School Meals for All Lobby Day, hosted by our partners at Voices for Virginia’s Children. This powerful day will unite Virginians from all walks of life to advocate for legislation that ensures healthy school meals for every student in the state.

Did you know? According to the 2020 Feeding America report, 27.3% of children in Richmond face food insecurity, a rate higher than both the state and national averages. This directly affects their academic performance and overall health. By supporting universal school meal programs, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive – academically, physically and emotionally – while fostering lifelong healthy habits. 

Justine Blincoe, Fit4Kids Policy Director, shares her thoughts: 

“Investing in Healthy School Meals for All is about more than just feeding students, it’s about fueling their future! School meals play a key role in increasing food access for children and families. We are proud to get behind Healthy School Meals for All, in partnership with Voices for Virginia’s Children, the American Heart Association, and Virginia Poverty Law Center, and are excited to continue building support to ensure all students have access to free meals so they can be nourished, happy, and ready to learn!”  

If you are interested in being part of this monumental day, here is what you can expect:

• A Bagged Lunch Drop-Off , where all 140 Virginia legislators will receive a brown bag lunch, complete with an apple, personal stories, and fact sheets emphasizing the importance of healthy school meals for all students! Morning Check-In , where advocates will be provided with breakfast and event materials at a reserved room in the General Assembly Building. 

• Self-Guided Legislative Visits , for advocates to meet with their Delegate and/or Senator. Voices will provide bill fact sheets and one-pagers to assist in guiding the discussion, but be sure to make your own appointment with your legislator! You can learn who represents you in the Virginia General Assembly here. 

• Kick-Off Pep Rally at the Bell Tower , to raise voices together and highlight the importance of healthy school meals.

As a Virginia resident, you have the opportunity to take part in the day’s events and advocate directly to legislators. If you would like to participate, please sign up: here and make your voice heard!

If you’re unable to attend Healthy School Meals for All Lobby Day, don’t worry! You can still make a difference by supporting important legislation aimed at improving children’s health and wellness across Virginia. There are several key bills being introduced during the 2025 Virginia General Assembly Session that directly affect this field. 

HB 1958 (Bennett Parker) / SB 1003 (Roem): These companion bills aim to serve up free school breakfast for every student in Virginia. Learn more about the bill’s status.

HB2041 (Seibold): A bill to fine-tune Virginia’s speed camera laws, putting safety first and making sure public input helps guide their implementation.

SB1017 (Roem): A game-changer that would require local school boards to address and pay off unpaid school meal debt, while making sure schools do not foot the bill themselves.

You can get involved by reaching out to your state legislators. Let them know why these bills matter to you, your family, and your community. 

We are excited to be part of shaping Virginia’s future health and wellenss culture and proud to play a role in this vital movement. Together, we can make sure every child has the opportunity to live a healthy life.